PHOENIX, Arizona, December 10. THIS is the Speedo Performance of the Week for Tuesday, December 10, 2013, presented by Pace Club. We had a couple big swim meets here in the United States jockeying for the attention of swim fans. The Texas Invitational and the USA Swimming nationals took place at the same time. American records fell, national records were broken and the race for the NCAA team titles got more intense.

Anyone who was in the building last Thursday at nationals, or watched the live stream online, will argue that Nick Thoman’s American record trifecta was the highlight of the week. According to our research, no one has ever broken three major records in one day, though people such as Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin and Kevin Cordes have accomplished the feat of breaking two records in one day in the past 10 years or so.

Thoman started his day with a 20.69 in the 50 backstroke as a leadoff for SwimMAC Carolina’s 200 medley relay to set an American record for the 50 backstroke. USA Swimming just started keeping records for the 50s of the strokes last year, so Thoman’s swim came in the nick of time. About a minute later, SwimMAC celebrated a 1:23.02 in the relay to break the American record that Cal set earlier this year by 15 hundredths of a second.

About two hours later, Thoman was back in the water for the 100 back final, and he was after the American record of 44.55 set last year by Matt Grevers. Thoman had posted a 44.56 leading off the 400 medley relay the night before, and with Grevers in the lane next to him, Thoman had the motivation to blast his way to a 44.07, and his third American record of the night.

Thoman took nine months off after the Olympic Games, and it appears the break was very beneficial. Congratulations, Nick, you’ve won the Speedo performance of the Week. I’m Tiffany Elias. We’ll see you next time.

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